Machine



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. SCOTT.

ROTARY PRINTING MACHINE. No; 372,712. Patented Nov. 8, 1887.

N PETERS. Pholu-Lvlhcpm her, Wasllmghm. I). O4

(No Model.)

- 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. W. SCOTT.

ROTARY PRINTING MACHINE.

No. 372,712. Patented Nov. 8, 1887.

N PETERS. Phowun m lm, Washmgton. D. C

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 (No Model.)'

W. SCOTT.

ROTARY PRINTING MACHINE.

No. 372,712. Patented Nov. 8, 1887.

N. PETERS. PlwhrLilhogmphcr. washmman, D C.

WALTER SCOTT, OF PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO B. HOE & (10., OF NEWV YORK, N. Y.

ROTARY PRiNTiNG=MACHlNE EPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 372,712, dated November 8, 1887.

Serial No. 05,174. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, W'ALTER Sootr'r, of Plaintield, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented an Improve ment in Rotary Printing-Machincs, of which the following is a specification.

In my present invention the types are upon one half of the main cylinder, and an inkingtable occupies the other half of the cylinder. The paper is brought to the impression-cylinder and receives one impression. It is then taken off by a transfer-cylinder, and the tail end of the sheet is taken again by the impression-cylinder, so as to present the plain side of the paper for the second impression. The paper is then folded in half between the impression-cylinder and the transfer-cylinder and by the latter conveyed to a folding apparatus.

This invention is specially applicable to presses where there are fourimpression-cylinders supplied from two rolls of paper,and four folding-machines; but the features hereinafter more fully described and claimed may be used where only one impression cylinder is provided.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical seotion of my improved press, showing one set of devices complete, and indicating the places where the other impressiorrcylinders are applied, each being supplied with its proper transfer cylinder and accompanying devices, which in this figure are omitted for greater clearness. Fig. 2 is a section of the impression and transfer cylinders in larger size, and Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are diagrams illustrating the progress of the sheet through the press. Fig. 6 is a cross-section of part of the cylinder, showing the means for Operating the grippers; and Fig. 7 is a diagram in larger size,showing in elevation and partial section the belts and pulleys, switch, and actuating-cam.

In my press there are many parts which, separately considered,are old and .well known, and the details of construct-ion and operation are not set forth herein, because they are of any ordinary character, and press-makers can supply the same without further information than that contained herein.

The roll of paper a is upon an arbor supported in a frame, a. The paper passes up over the pressure feed-roller b and down between that and the female cutting-cylinder 0, around the side thereof next to the roll a, thence between 0 and the male cutting-cylinder (1, and up between the accelerating-belts e 6, (shown by dotted lines,)'over the breaking or nipping roller d, and then descends between the belts or tapes 6 e as they pass down. The cylinders c and d are driven by bevel and toothed wheels actuated from the main drivingshaft, as shown, or in any other convenient manner. The endless tapes or belts e pass below the roller 1, above the roller 2, be low the roller 3, thence around the roller 4, below the roller 5, over the nipping-roller d, and down to and below roller 1. The endless belts or tapes 6 pass over the nipping-roller cZ,down to and below rollers 6 and 7, over and around the roller 8, down to and below the rollers 9 and 10, up to and over nipping-roller d; hence the belts e and e are contiguous and at opposite sides of the paper from the roller 1, up to and over the nipping-roller d, and down to the roller 5.

There is an endless belt or tapes, e, passing around the roller 7, beneath the roller 6, up over the roller 12, down below 13, and to 7. There is another endless belt or tapes, e, around the rollers 14 and 15. The axis of the roller 6 is secured in adjustable sliding bearings,(see Fig. 7,) and said bearings are secured to the frame of the machine and held in place by set'screws or bolts in the usual manner; and by adjusting the roller 6 the proper tension is given to the tapes 6 and e", and the tape 6 is brought nearer to or farther from the rollers 5 and 12.

The male and female cutters on the cylinders d c are of the usual character, having points that penetrate the paper, but do not I ing end of the sheet, however, is drawn for ward between the bolts 0 c as fast as the cylinders 0 and d are traveling, and this operation effects a separation of one sheet from the other andcarries the separated sheet along faster than the advancing endv of the web of paper and produces a space between one sheet and the next. As the sheet of paper passes over the roller d,it descends between the tapes 6 e. A switch, f, (see Figs. 1 and 7,) is used to deflect every alternate sheet from the tapes 6 e in between the tapes 6 6*, and when in the position shown in full lines, Fig. 7, said switch f deflects the sheet in this way. In the posi-' tion shown by dotted lines, Fig; 7, the switch f allows the sheet of paper to continue its downward journey and pass between the tapes 6 and e and be by them carried around the roller 6 and onward to a position near the roller 8, where it is grasped by the grippers on the impression-cylinder h. This switch f is operated by any suitable means. I have shown a rock-shaft, 50, and a rod to a cam, 51, upon the shaft of the cylinder r.

The switch at f is of ordinary charactersuch as'is used in printing-presses and the same does not form any part of my invention; and as the impression-cylinders h and h are made in the same manner and the devices hereinafter described are duplicated, it is not necessary to describe the parts used with the cylinder h; and I further remark that where the press is supplied with paper from, a second roll there are to be cylinders h and h ,with all the parts duplicated, at the other side of the press, orwith equivalents of said parts.

The main cylinder D is divided into two parts. The surface shown at the left side at Z Z is atable for ink-distribution. At 122 are the types that give the first impression, and at n the types that give the second impression. The circumference of this cylinder D is equal to the length of four sheets of paper plus the distance between the separated sheets, and presuming that the cylinder D is revolving in the direction shown in Fig. l by the arrows, the sheet to be printed reaches the grippers 28 and is taken by them to the cylinder, so that it receives an impression from the types m. Then the inking-table Z passes the cylinder h, and during the half-revolution of D the sheet of paper that has received oneimpression from m is reversed and brought back by the cylinder h and receives the second impression from the types a, and by the time the cylinder D has moved around, so that the types m again reach the cylinder h, there is another sheet ready to be impressed by the said types m.

The inking-rollers o are of any suitable character. They are in groups at 0, 0 0", and 0 and they are upon slides in the main frame. These slides are provided with rollers that are in contact with the cam 0 that revolves with the cylinder D; hence the inking-rollers are raised for the types to pass below and in confact with the inking-rollers, and then drawn nwardlybysprings. (See Fig. 1.) Saidsprings :urround the slides and bear between the frame :11 machine and a boss on the slides, and *hey act to press the rollers inwardly and cause hem to bear either upon the ink-distributing der 1), working-rollers p", and transfer-roller pflthat spreads the ink upon the ink-table Z, are all of ordinary character. This transferroller 10 may be operated in any well-known way to bring it alternately into contact with the inking-table or distributing-cylinder.

I will now describe the special construction of the impression-cylinder h and transfer-cylinder 1'. Each of these cylinders is half the diameter of the cylinder D, and hence half the circumference of the cylinder h or r is equalto a quarter of that of the cylinder D, and corresponds, or nearly so, to the length of paper that is to be printed.

28 is a gripper that is opened by a stationary cam at and allowed to spring and close upon the advancing edge of the sheet as it is carried up by the belts e and e As the halfhof the cylinder h rolls in contact with the types m, the sheet of paper upon the said half h receives its iiist impression. As the grippers 28 reach the point of contact with the transfercylinder r,the grippers 29 of said transfer-cylinder arrive at the same place, are opened by a stationary cam 43, (see Fig. 2,) and close upon the advancing edge of the sheet at the same moment that the grippers 28 are released by a stationary cam 44. The grippers 29 now hold the sheet, and as the cylinders h and r revolvesaid sheet is transferred from cylinder h to cylinder T; but the last end of the sheet comes even with the position of the grippers 31, and as the cylinders moveinto the position shown in Fig. 4 a stationary cam opens the grippers 31, and at the same moment the tucking-blade 30 on cylinder r is pushed forward by a stationarycam 46, carrying the edge of the paper into the grippers 31, and they grasp the said last end ofthe sheet; and at the same instant the grippers 29 are opened by a stationary cam 47, and yield the sheet to the grippers 31, to be carried by them back again upon the impression-cylinder h with the still unprinted surface to the types. Fig. 3 repre sents the position of theparts when the advancing end of the sheet is taken by the grippers 29 and dropped by the grippers 28, and

Fig. 4 shows the position of the parts when.

the rear end of the sheet is taken by the grippers 31 and dropped by the grippers 29, ready to be carried back for the second impression. By the time the grippers 31 arrive'at the types the advancing end of the types 02 have reached the same place and the second impression is given bythem, and when the grippers 28 reach the belts e 6'' there is a second sheet ready to be taken by said grippers to receive the first impression. The first sheet, when receiving the second impression, is upon the half lbs of the cylinder h and the center of the sheet is across the tucking-blade 32,which tucking blade32 at too the proper time, and by action of stationary cam48, presses the middle of the sheet into the grippers 33 on the transfer-cylinder 1'. These grippers 33 are opened by the stationary cam 49 and closed by a spring, and they carry off the sheet with one fold in it, because the grippers 31 drop the advancing end of the sheet as the middle is pressed into 33. The tuckingblades 30 and 32 are operated by the earns 46 and 48, and are returned by the springs shown in Fig. 2 by dotted lines. In Fig. 6 I have shown the spring employed for closing and holding the grippers. It surrounds one end of the gripper-shaft outside the cylinder. One end of the spring is secured to the cylinder and the other end to a boss secured to the shaft. This construction is commonly employed.

There are endless tapes t passing around the cylinder 0, over the roller 34, and around the roller 35, the tucking-blade 30 being notched at the places occupied by such belts, and the grippers being located so as to be clear of suchbelts. The cylinder 0' is also to be recessed for the tapes, so that they are below the level of the groove into which the tuckingblade 32 enters. There are also endless tapes or belts it around the rollers 34 and 36, and at the moment when the grippers 33 reach the roller 34: they are opened, so that the advancing fold of the paper is carried in between the belts t and '26, over the roller 34:, and forward to aposition underneath the tucking blade'v. The tucking-blade n then forces the sheet into the bite of the revolving rollers o. The sheet then passes from these rollers downward before the fly w. This tly lays the sheet upon the table 50. This table is supported upon four springs, which yield under the weight of the folded paper, so that the height of the pile of the paper will be relatively the same to the fly 10.

As the paper-folding machine is a wellknown appliance in printing-presses, and the various grippers employed by me being also well known, it is unnecessary to describe these in detail or to represent all the devices for operating the same. I remark, however, that the grippers 28 need only operate every second revolution, because there will not be a sheet to be taken at the time the inking-table of D is passing by the impression-cylinder. The blade 30 and grippers 31 will only act every other revolution. So, also, the transfergrippers 29 will operate every second revolution, because the sheet will be at the places to be acted upon each two revolutions. Itisimmaterial whether the parts go through their movements when there is not any sheet at the place, or whet-her the cams that open the grippers and move the tucking-blade are brought into action each two revolutions.

It is of course understood that the printingcylinders and other parts of the machine are geared together, so as to rotate in their proper order.

The cutting-cylinders 0 (Z make two revolutions to one of the cylinder D, and consequently deliver a sheet to each of the cylinders h and h, as previously described.

When it is desired to operate but one printing-cylinder, the cutting cyliiulers c d are geared to make one revolution to one of the cylinder D.

\Vhen it is desired to operate one of each set of impression-cylinders only, the other is thrown out of operation by removing its driving-gear and turning it around until the space where the grippers are placed comes opposite the type-cylinder.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination, with the cylinder carrying two forms of type to print the two sides of paper, of an impression-cylinder with a circumference of about twice the length of the sheet to be printed, two sets of grippers upon the said cylinder, and a reversing-cylinder and grippers to take the sheet from one set of grippers on the impression-cylinder, reverse it, and deliver it to the second set of grippers upon the impressioncylinder, substantially as specified.

2. In combination with the printing-cylinder D, the impressioncylinder h, the two sets of grippers 2S and 31, the cylinder 1', and the grippers 29 and tucking-blade 30, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. I11 combination with the printing-cylinder D, the imprcssion-cylinders 71, carryinggrippers 28 and 31 and tucking-blade 32, and the cylinder 0, carryinggrippers 29 and 33 and tucking-blade 30, so that sheets of paper maybe printed on both sides and folded at continuous operations, substantially as specified.

at. Inaprinting-prcss, the combination, with the impression and transfer cylinders, of the cutting-cylinders c d, nipping-roller d, tapes 6 and c, e" and a, and their rollers, switch f, and adjustable roller 63, substantially as de scribed, so that sheets may be separated and delivered to the two impression-cylindcrs, substantially as specified.

5.. The cutting-cylinders,nipping-roller,and con veying-tapes, in combination with the typecylinder, impression-cylinder, and transfercylinder, and folding mechanism, substantially as described, so that from a web of paper sheets may be out and printed on both sides and folded automatically by continuous operations, substantially as specified.

6. In a printing-press, the combination, with the printing-eylinder I), having the types and an inking-table, and the impression-cylinders around the same, of a transfer-cylinder, 1', accompanying and operating in connection with each inipression-cylinder h, the feeding and cutting cylinders 0 d, the conveying-tapes and switch f, and actuating mechanism, substantially as specified, the parts being so constructed and operated that one or more sets of printing and transfer cylinders can be thrown out of action without atfecting the remainder, substantially as specified.

7. The combination, with an impressioncylinder provided with a tucking-blade, of a second cylinder provided with grippers and co-operating with said tucking-blade, whereby the printed sheets are folded off from said impression-cylinder, substantially as described.

8. The combination,with an impression-cylinder provided with sheet-seizing devices, of

a tucking-blade carried by said cylinder and adapted to fold the sheets therefrom after being printed, substantially as described.

9. The combination, with an impression-cylinder provided with a tucking-blade and cooperating with grippers carried by a second cylinder, whereby sheetsare delivered after being printed, once folded, to said second cylinder, of a secondary folder, and means for directing the once-folded sheets from the secondary cylinder to the secondary folder, substantially as described.

10. The combination, with an impressioncylinder and a reversing-cylinder, each of which is provided with sheet-seizing devices, 

